Leon Osman is delighted to have signed a new two year deal at Everton.

The 32 year old midfielder, who has been at Everton since he left school, also said that he loves playing for the Blues.

‘We are not quite sure what’s going to happen with a manager but I am still delighted to have secured my future here at the club,’ he said.

‘It’s time to take the family on holiday now, enjoy it and recharge the batteries for next season.’

‘I am delighted to have put my signature on another contract and secured another year at the club.

‘I have been here since I left school, I am a player and a fan, I love coming to work every day and I am delighted that’s going to continue.’

Everton defender Leighton Baines says it is up to the players who remain at Goodison Park – like himself – to take Everton forward in the absence of David Moyes.

Baines says that Moyes will never be forgotten at Everton, but that it is essential that whoever comes in takes the club forward.

“It’s a massive loss to lose the manager,” said the England international.

“It was a sad day after the last game at Goodison particularly because you’ve been working with him for so long, he’s always around, he’s such a hard worker and he doesn’t miss a beat.

“It will be so strange the day we walk through the door and he’s not there. But football clubs live on and we’ll live on, we’ll move on.

“We’ll always remember what he did for the club and where he’s put us, but it’s up to the rest of us, the people who remain and the people who come in, to take it forward now and build on the foundations he’s worked hard to put in.”

Absentee Everton director Robert Earl has won the first part of a legal battle with Newcastle United chairman Mike Ashley over copyright issues.

Earl, who has not visited Goodison Park in the last twelve months, issued legal proceedings over Ashley’s Sports Direct chain selling “Queensbury” branded clothing – a trademark Earl’s company Boxing Brands owns.

The Planet Hollywood owner had previously been granted an injunction to stop Sports Direct selling the merchandise in December, but Ashley applied for an order that would have forced Boxing Brands to give security for the anticipated legal fees of £370,000 but this was thrown out and Sports Direct ordered to pay Boxing Brands’ £28,000 costs.

Not for the first time this season, Everton beat Newcastle…

Phil Neville says he is half-prepared to replace David Moyes at Everton if he should be asked.

Growing speculation has linked Porto boss Vitor Pereira to the job, but Neville told the media this morning that he feels he could be ready to take charge at Everton.

“It would be a really good job to get,” said Neville.

“I know there are players who have gone into jobs and failed but I just think I have prepared. I have prepared for the last five seasons and I have got some really nice decisions to make. I am prepared for every eventuality.

“I’ve not reached the end of my career and thought: ‘I know, I’ll be a manager’. I have had a lot of experience, studying coaching practices. I’ve got files on every training session from the last three seasons. I have been away with the Under-21s. I’m half-prepared for what I am going in to.

Reports in Portugal suggest that Everton are set to appoint Porto boss Vitor Pereira as manager in the next few days.

After being voted a fans’ favourite in many polls, including our own on NSNO, Pereira would seem to tie in with Bill Kenwright’s early statement that the appointment would be one that fans approved of.

The 44 year old has won the Portugese title twice in his two seasons with Porto, but fans of the champions are less than happy with his showings in Europe or their domestic cup competition.

Some reports also claim that the deal to bring Pereira to Everton was initially set up almost two months ago after having already met with the club.  If these claims are true, then it proves that David Moyes knew he would be leaving Everton long before the end of the season.